R-III examines health insurance options

Board gave administrators approval to move forward with bidding out insurance program

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By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Kirksville Daily Express - Kirksville, MO

By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 1:00 PM

By Taylor Muller/@TaylorMullerKDE

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Kirksville

The Kirksville School Board gave approval to a tentative timeline for administrators to begin exploring other options on health insurance with the goal of either re-approving its current arrangement or switching to a new provider for 2014.

The district currently utilizes a self-funded insurance plan and pays the premiums for all of its employees.

“Since this is our second largest investment in our employees, after salaries, it’s important we get this right,” said Assistant Superintendent Jane Schaper.

The timeline is hoped to end with a decision in time for open enrollment in the fall and implementation by 2014.

“We’ve allotted a lot of time but it is a time consuming process and we don’t want to be rushed,” Schaper said.

The district is planning on engaging its human resources staff and faculty and staff representatives through February, discussing the needs and desires for any future health insurance plan.

The tentative plan is to have the School Board approve a request for proposals in mid-February and begin evaluating those in April with the potential for a selection by early May.

Enrollment would open in November.

The School Board also approved the development of bid specifications by the school’s architect for the about 10,000 square-foot roofing project at the high school.

The final bid specifications will be drafted and then posted for bids with the School Board likely making a decision this spring for work to be completed this summer.